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Topic: Help please (Read 1573 times)

Given that my paperweight knowledge is on par with that of a dead duck, hoping for some help here. At a fair today, I was persuaded to take these 2 p/w's in part exchange for some jewellery, but I don't know if they're decent or not.The first is a Strathearn weight and carries a label from 1971, I presume a year and not a model number. Shaped like a flower with 6 petals and stamens inside. Measure about 2.5" high and the same across.

The second I find more interesting as I think it may be Murano. It appears to be an old weight with a lot of wear to the base and when viewed from the top internal "ripples" within the glass. The bed is made up of copper with lots of controlled bubbles. Interesting, well to me anyway, underneath it has a full ground out pontil and a number of pin prick sized holes in a semi-circle. Quite a big weight 3.5" high and 2.5" across.

Oh lord I can feel another collection coming on. The Murano one now intrigues me I can see with an eye glass now the holes being bubbles as you said Ray, I still think it's quite early though, so might have to do some more work on it.I like to colour in the Strathearn weight, would I be right in assuming it to be a fairly common example, I think I'm getting hooked, still they are smaller than vases.Paul

As Ray has said the Strathearn is an "Orchid" [P4 design]. But the "1969 to 1971" dating applies to a similar weight made by Perthshire Paperweights [PP9 design]. The Strathearn ones were regular production 1965 to 1979.

As Frank has pointed out, Richard More's site is the current place for info on Strathearn weights. His page on the Orchids, showing examples of all three colours they were produced in, is:http://strathearn.smugmug.com/gallery/346990

The current "market price" for these is around £30 - 40 or maybe a bit more.

As for the Murano - I have no idea. And to be honest, those types of "large cane" weights don't do much for me at all.

Thanks Kev, well with that for the Strathearn, the Murano owes me nothing, but I'm really quite taken with them both, although the only PW's I've kept have been Venini within my overall Venini collection, I do feel a new interest stiring here.Paul